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Norovirus Info

Norovirus
is a highly contagious illness caused by infection with a virus called
norovirus. It is often called by other names, such as viral
gastroenteritis, stomach flu, and food poisoning.

Norovirus
infection causes acute gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and
intestines); the most common symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, and
stomach pain.

Anyone can get norovirus, and they can have the illness multiple times during their lifetime.

Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States.

Norovirus illness can be serious

Norovirus can make people feel extremely ill and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day.

Most people get better within 1 to 2 days.

Dehydration
can be a problem among some people with norovirus infection,
especially the very young, the elderly, and people with other illnesses.

Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads rapidly

Noroviruses are highly contagious, and outbreaks are common due to the ease of transmission.

People
with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to
at least 3 days and perhaps for as long as 2 weeks after recovery,
making control of this disease even more difficult.

Norovirus can spread rapidly in closed environments like daycare centers and nursing homes

Many sources for norovirus infection

Noroviruses are found in the stool and vomit of infected people. People can become infected by

Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus.

Touching surfaces or objects that are contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their mouth.

Having
direct contact with an infected person; for example, by exposure to the
virus when caring for or when sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils
with an infected person.

Tips to prevent the spread of norovirus

Practice proper hand hygiene:
Wash your hands carefully with soap and water, especially after using
the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating or preparing
food. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (containing at least 62% ethanol)
may be a helpful addition to hand washing, but they are not a substitute
for washing with soap and water. See “Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives.”

Take care in the kitchen: Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating them.

Do not prepare food while infected:
People who are infected with norovirus should not prepare food for
others while they have symptoms and for 3 days after they recover from
their illness.

Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces:
After an episode of illness, such as vomiting or diarrhea, immediately
clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces by using a bleach-based
household cleaner as directed on the product label or a solution made by
adding 5–25 tablespoons of household bleach to 1 gallon of water.

Wash laundry thoroughly:
Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated
with vomit or fecal matter. Handle soiled items carefully—without
agitating them—to avoid spreading virus. They should be laundered with
detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dried.

No specific treatment or vaccine for norovirus infection

There is no vaccine to prevent norovirus infection, although this is an area of active research.

There is no specific drug to treat people with norovirus illness.

Rehydration
is important for infected people—they must drink plenty of liquids to
replace fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhea. In some cases, fluid
may need to be given intravenously.